Tinnitus: Causes of Ringing in the Ears and What Helps
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 5 November 2026
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Tinnitus is ringing, buzzing or hissing in one or both ears with no sound outside. The most common causes are hearing loss from age or noise, earwax or an ear infection. It is rarely serious, but see a doctor if it lasts or starts suddenly. This guide is by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).
- Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease. Many people get it at some point.
- Common causes: hearing loss, loud noise, earwax, ear infections and some medicines.
- Stress, anxiety and poor sleep make it more bothersome.
- No pill cures it, but sound therapy, hearing aids and talking therapy (CBT) help a lot.
- See a doctor soon if it beats in time with your pulse or is only in one ear.
- Go to A&E or call 112 if it starts after a head injury, or with sudden hearing loss, vertigo or face weakness.
What is tinnitus?
It means hearing a sound that does not come from outside. It may ring, buzz, hiss, click or sound like the sea. It can be constant or come and go, in one ear, both, or "in your head". You notice it most in quiet places, such as in bed. In Spain doctors call it acúfenos or tinnitus.
What causes tinnitus?
- Hearing loss: from age or from noise. This is the most common cause.
- Loud noise: a concert, a club or loud tools can leave a short-term ringing.
- Earwax, or an ear blocked by a cold.
- Ear infection, or fluid behind the eardrum.
- Ménière's disease: attacks of vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss.
- Medicines: some antibiotics, aspirin in high doses, some anti-inflammatories and some cancer treatments.
- Other causes: jaw joint problems, a tense neck, diabetes, thyroid problems, anaemia, anxiety or depression.
Why can I hear my heartbeat in my ear?
Tinnitus that beats in time with your heart is called pulsatile tinnitus. It is less common. It can come from blood flow in vessels near the ear. It needs a doctor's check soon, though the cause is often not serious.
Is tinnitus serious?
Almost never. But it can affect your sleep, focus and mood a lot. If it is only in one ear, is getting worse, or comes with hearing loss, the cause should be looked for.
How is tinnitus checked?
The doctor asks what the sound is like, when it began, about noise or a head injury, and what medicines you take. They look in the ear for wax or infection. You often need a hearing test. Some people are sent to an ear, nose and throat specialist (otorrino).
What treatments are there?
- Treat the cause: remove earwax, treat an infection or review a medicine.
- Hearing aids: if you have hearing loss, they often make tinnitus less noticeable.
- Sound therapy: soft music or background sounds so the tinnitus stands out less. Avoid total silence.
- CBT: a talking therapy that changes how you react to the sound and eases distress.
- Tinnitus retraining therapy: sound plus counselling, to help the brain tune it out.
No medicine or supplement has been shown to cure tinnitus.
What can I do at home?
- Protect your ears from noise with earplugs or ear defenders.
- Use soft background sound at night: a fan, a quiet radio or a sound app.
- Look after your sleep and find ways to relax.
- Do not put cotton buds in your ears. They push wax further in.
- Cut down on caffeine and alcohol if they make it worse.
If your ear feels blocked with no wax, read our guide to a blocked ear.
What do I ask for in Spain?
In Spanish, tinnitus is acúfenos or pitidos en los oídos, earwax is cera or tapón de cera, and a hearing test is an audiometría. Earplugs are tapones para los oídos, sold in pharmacies.
When to see a doctor
- It lasts more than a few days, is constant or is getting worse.
- It is only in one ear.
- It beats in time with your pulse.
- It affects your sleep, focus or mood.
- It comes with ear pain, discharge or hearing loss.
- It started after a new medicine.
When to go to A&E or call 112
- It started after a head injury.
- It comes with sudden hearing loss in one ear. This is urgent, and treatment works best early.
- It comes with severe vertigo, face weakness, double vision or trouble speaking: call 112.
Do not drive if you have vertigo. If you have thoughts of suicide, call 024, or 112 if you are in danger now.
Frequently asked questions about tinnitus
Can tinnitus go away?
It depends on the cause. If it is due to wax, an infection or a medicine, it may go. If not, treatment can make it much less bothersome.
Can stress cause ringing in the ears?
Stress and anxiety are rarely the cause, but they make tinnitus more noticeable and harder to live with.
How long does ringing last after a concert?
It usually fades within hours or a few days. If it lasts longer, see a doctor, and protect your ears next time.
Do supplements help tinnitus?
There is no proof that any supplement, such as ginkgo or zinc, cures tinnitus.
Can a doctor assess tinnitus by video?
Yes, to review your symptoms, medicines and warning signs. Looking in the ear or a hearing test is done in person.
Getting a medical assessment
If ringing in your ears worries you, you can book a video consultation with Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, a physician registered in Spain. You can also read about ear infections, Ménière's disease and Serc and vertigo. A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.
This guide is general information. It does not replace the package leaflet or the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.
Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following sources.
